Improvement in combs



@dimite-1i tant 'stent @wird JAMES CLARENCE-REED, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

.Letters Patent No.104,202, dated .Tune 14, lS.

The Schedule referred to :in these Letters Patent and making part of the same in parting the hair, but it may also be used as a' comb. It is used with a brush or analogous device. and covers one portion of the hair while another portion, quite up to the edge of the hair-parting device or comb, is being brushed. The brush is inoperative on the protected portion, but it acts close to the edge of my comb and deiiects or brushes all the hair exposed; then, by moving my comb or parting-device in the opposite direction, all. the hair thereby covered is combed in the direction opposite to 'the brush, leaving the hair cleanly parted alongr the line of the edge of the colnb.

My comb is peculiarly made to adapt it to be thus used.

The teeth, near their points, stand nearly at right angles to the fiat portion or main body of the comb. The length ofthe teeth may vary within wide limits; thus the teeth may be of ordinary length, say one inch, and may be bent near their point, or the teeth may -be shortened, that is, the divisions between the teeth may extend less far into the body of the comb. This modification may -be carried to such an extent that the de vice between the teeth may extend only one quarter of an inch, and the combwill serve its peculiar function in parting the hair equally as well as betbre and possibly alittle better, but I prefer, in order to allow the same comb to also serve the general purposes of a comb vin smoothing and disen tnngling the'hair, that .the teeth shall be of about the ordinary length. In all cases I have the bent portion, or the part which stands at right angles tothe body, of small breadth. I should say the limits in practice would be between un eighth and three-eighths of an inch.

In order the better` to adapt my comb to the hollow at the back ot the head, as well as the generally rounded surface of other parts of the head, I curve `the body in a forni approximating slightly to the letter s.

I will proceed to describe what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention by the aid of the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a side view;

Figure 24 is an edge view; and l Figures 3, 4, and 5, are cross sections of mydevice, about the size which I propose to make it for general sale and use.

Figure 6 shows the rear or back of a head with the hair combed directly down 'by the same or another instrument.

plied, preliminary to the brushing.'

Figure S shows the hair after the brushing.

Figure 9 shows the hair-parting device after it has been moved a little to the left.

Figure 10 shows the tinal result.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. Y

-A is the body of the comb, and

B B is a portion bent or turned so as to forni aV flange along one edge. The teethare formed on the edge of this tia-nge. may be out, or otherwise produced, so as to extend a long distance into the body ot' the comb, as indicated iniig. 3, or they may extend a less distance, as in dicated in iig/1,01' they may extend still less, as indi-` cated in iig. 5. l

My comb may be madeof any ordinary materials. When made of iron, or any other metal or analagous material which allows'oi bending, the teeth maybe formed first while the comb-is in atlat condition, and the bending may be eiiected afterward by any suitable means; but I prefer making my' comb of hard vulcanized rubber, moulding as nearly as possible in the shape and condition which it is to vmaint-ain after it is finished. l

In using the comb, the hair is first` combed and brushed in the direction of the division or part-line; then the comb is laid, as before described, with the points of the teeth resting on the'sealp, and with the tlat portion or main body of the comb coyering the hair on one side of y'the parting andgeieetually pro tecting it from being etiected by the brush. The brush is now'l applied, pressing it forcibly upon the comb, where it will be inoperative,land allqwin'g its full eiiect'to be exerted on the hair 'close to the line of the points of the teeth rlhe brush brushes the free hair away from the comb.v When all the huir exposed has been brushedaway from the comb, the operation of brushing is stopped, and the comb is moved' gradually (or-rapidly, as may be prefered,) in the opposite direction, dragging the hair under it in that direction, by the operation upon-it of the teeth B.

The hair thus deflected by the comb may be subsequently brushed, it desired, and, in such case, care will.

be taken not to brush so nearthe parting line as to disturb the hair on the other side.

Letters Patent- The within described improvement in combs, 7 as a new article ot' manufacture, having the teeth B standing nearly at riglit angles with the body, and the whole adapted to serve in'connection witha hairbrush, substantiallyas and for the purposes herein set forth. i

.In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence'ot' two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES CLARENCE REED.

Witnesses:

W. C. DEY (l. G. L'tvINGs.

Iclaim as my invention and desire to secure by The spaces between the teeth4 

